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Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Jackals Back Vasami in 15-2 Thrashing of Sussex

August 4, 2010 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Augusta, NJ - The New Jersey Jackals snapped their season-long six-game losing streak in emphatic fashion on Wednesday morning, drubbing the Sussex Skyhawks 15-2 behind the strength of four Jacob Butler hits and seven shutout innings from starting pitcher Chris Vasami at Skylands Park.

Vasami (2-0), a converted infielder, held Sussex to just three singles over seven scoreless frames in his second professional start to earn the win. The 25-year-old right-hander walked five batters while fanning four in New Jersey's biggest victory this season.

Playing their third game in less than 19 hours after dropping both ends of a doubleheader on Tuesday at Sussex, the Jackals set season highs with 15 runs and 18 hits as every starter recorded at least one hit. Butler became the first New Jersey batter to collect four hits in a game this season, going 4-for-5 with a home run and a Jackals' season-high five runs scored.

New Jersey opened the scoring in the second inning, using an RBI groundout by catcher Angel Flores and three run-scoring singles to gain a 4-0 advantage. Second baseman Travis Jones' RBI liner off Tim Stringer's leg knocked the Sussex starter out of the contest with two outs in the second. Stringer (3-4) took the loss.

The Jackals steady offensive attack produced one run in the fourth and another in the fifth against reliever Ulysses Roque before New Jersey erupted for three more runs in the sixth against Matt Salvato.

Trailing 9-0, Sussex sent backup catcher Jon Gossard to the mound for the final three innings. Gossard tossed a scoreless seventh before yielding three runs in the eighth, keyed by a two-run double off the bat of CF Adam Godwin, and surrendering three more runs in the ninth inning on home runs by first baseman Jabe Bergeron and Butler. Bergeron's 11th blast and Butler's team-leading 13th capped the scoring.

Sussex finally broke through with two runs against reliever Edgar Estanga in the bottom of the eighth inning when left fielder Kraig Binick led off with a single before shortstop Chase Fontaine doubled him home and 1B Kris Sanchez added an RBI single. Right-hander Mike Pontius tossed a scoreless ninth for New Jersey to seal the victory.

In his return to the lineup after missing New Jersey's last 12 games with a groin injury, SS Mike DeJesus drove in a pair of runs. Jones stole three bases in as many attempts, while center fielder Adam Godwin went 3-for-6 to notch his 10th multi-hit game in 19 contests with New Jersey. In that span, Godwin also has six three-hit outings. Right fielder Kevin Clark added three hits in six at-bats as well, with a double and two RBIs. Bergeron drove in four runs from the cleanup spot. Joe Persichina was the only Sussex batter to record multiple hits with a 2-for-4 effort that included a double.

The Jackals (7-9 second half, 26-36 overall) and Skyhawks (5-11, 30-32) conclude their four-game series on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. when New Jersey sends southpaw Paul Fagan (0-1, 9.90) to the mound for his third start in a Jackals uniform. Cody Chrusciel has the live call on the Jackals webcast beginning 10 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com.

The New Jersey Jackals, proud members of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, play their home games at Yogi Berra Stadium located on the campus of Montclair State University in Little Falls, NJ. 2010 season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 973-746-7434. Visit the Jackals online at www.jackals.com.

Game Notes: New Jersey hitters had collected three hits in a contest 28 times prior to Jacob Butler's four-hit outburst... Jackals' outfielder Jeff Grose, who did not start the game, was ejected from the bench in the bottom of the third inning. It was Grose's first ejection of the season... The Jackals previous largest margin of victory was eight runs in their 11-3 win at Worcester on June 16... Sussex closer Duaner Sanchez, who spent parts of six seasons in the major leagues, entered the game in right field in the top of the eighth inning. Sanchez popped out in his first at-bat of the season in the eighth inning against Edgar Estanga. Sanchez is now 6-for-23 at the plate in his professional career, a .261 batting average... Sussex reliever Matt Salvato had allowed just three earned runs in his first 18 appearances before giving up three in the contest in one frame... Sussex left fielder Kraig Binick stole his 31st base of the season in the third inning, tying former Skyhawks' outfielder Ron Perodin for the Sussex single-season thefts record. Binick is now 14 steals shy of tying Marcus Nettles (45 steals for New Haven County in 2006) for the Can-Am League single-season record.

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